Abstract: The Hicks Engine plans and marketing materials (SAFR 17336, HDC 1092) contains mainly fabrication drawings for Hicks engines
and parts, and assembly lists for Hick's engines produced between 1918 to 1950. A small number of documents include 2 offset
printed illustrations of engine parts for a catalog, 5 original illustrations of engine parts on over sized boards, and photocopies
of a catalog, an order form, a manual, and a price list. This collection is cataloged to the file level and is open for use
with staff assistance.

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other
case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Bay Specialties Company was originally owned by Mr. Alex Thomson. The collection of fabrication plans, Hick's engine parts,
and related documents were donated to the National Park Service by his grandson in 1994. While in the process of closing the
shop, the grandson decided the material should be placed in an archives and museum.

Historical or Biographical Note

The Hicks 8-h.p. single cylinder four-stroke engine was popular with fishermen, particularly along Fishermen's Wharf in San
Francisco, CA where it was the engine installed onto most Monterey fishing boats from the 1880s until the early 1950s.

Hicks engines were produced by James L. Hicks who established Hicks Iron Works, later Hicks Engine Works, during the late
19th century, in San Francisco, CA after immigrating from Ireland in 1850. Mr. Hicks worked as a machinist from 1870 and later
refined and simplified the single cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine. By 1910, Hicks Engine Works was a notable part of
the drive to produce and manufacture gasoline engines in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Hicks 8-h.p. single cylinder four-stroke
engine was popular with fishermen, particularly along Fishermen's Wharf in San Francisco where it was installed in most Monterey
fishing boats. The Hicks engine was a favorite of Bay Area fishermen because it was easy to start, durable, reliable, steady,
economical to operate and repair, and parts were easily accessible because manufacturing plants were local. James L. Hicks
records his occupation as 'machinist', 'gasoline engine manufacturer' and 'retired' in the 1870, 1910 and 1920 censuses respectively.
By
1920 his age is 88.

Subsequent to Mr. Hicks' retirement, Yuba Manufacturing Company manufactured and produced Hicks Engines from 1918 to 1945.
The Hicks 'heavy duty' marine gas engines were sold through the Hicks Engine Sales Company from two locations: 351 California
Street in San Francisco, and 920 Howard Street in Martinez, California. The Yuba Manufacturing Company plant in Benicia, California,
1898-1957, was known for producing large metal parts and equipment for industries such as dredging, mining, and lumber. To
meet demand during a time of high demand for fabricated iron and steel, The Yuba, as it was known in Benicia, contracted other
companies, such as Bay Specialties Company in Martinez, California to manufacture and distribute Hicks engines and parts.

Bay Specialties Company, 1939-1950, located at 191 Howe Road, Martinez, California, was started by Alex Thomson, the donor's
grandfather. In addition to distribution and manufacture of Hicks engines and engine parts, the company also made parts for
liberty ships, submarines and firearms.

The Hicks Engine plans and marketing materials (SAFR 17336, HDC 1092) contains mainly fabrication drawings for Hicks engines
and parts, and assembly lists for Hick's engines produced between 1918 to 1950. A small number of documents include 2 offset
printed illustrations of engine parts for a catalog, 5 original illustrations of engine parts on over sized boards, and photocopies
of a catalog, an order form, a manual, and a price list. This collection is cataloged to the file level and is open for use
with staff assistance.

On 21 July 2009, material from accession SAFR-1230.1 was added to this collection. This addition is 2 photocopies of a timing
diagram for Hicks Type Y marine engine made by Yuba Manufacturing Company. The drawing number is AY513, measures 47 x 60 cm,
and is dated January 29, 1929. The material is integrated intellectually with the AY series 1.09 and is physically stored
with other over sized AY type drawings.

On 16 August 2010, material from accession SAFR-1230.3-5 was added to this collection. The accession consists of 1 carburetor
parts list with illustrations on the verso, 1 photocopy of the same, 1 photocopy of Hicks Marine Engine order form, and 1
photocopy of Manzel Brothers Company lubricator manual.

On 17 August 2010, material from accession SAFR-1138.1-3, 7 was added to this collection. The accession consists of 1 plan
titled Dimension Table by Yuba Manufacturing Company, drawing number DY-506, 1 catalog, 1 brochure, and 1 order form and parts
list. The latter three are photocopies.

On 10 September 2010, material from accession SAFR-1230.6 was added to this collection. It consists of 3 frames (images) on
a 35 mm negative strip of Hicks engines.

This collection was formerly titled Yuba Manufacturing Company records.

Collection Arrangement

The collection is organized into 5 series.

Series 1, Fabrication plans, is organized into 18 subseries, each of which correspond to a particular Hicks engine type. Please
see sub-series descriptions for details.

Series 2, Assembly Lists, is organized into 8 subseries, each series describes a particular Hicks engine type. Please see
sub-series descriptions for details.

Series 3, Bay Specialties Company Hicks engine orders filled on August 22, 1945.

Series 4: Catalog, brochures, and order form.

Series 5: Oversized graphics and other documents. This series includes two accretions.

This collection was partially processed several years before it was cataloged and described. The arrangement correspondes
to the physical organization of the collections as it was found at the time of processing, but it is not known if this arrangement
was original to the collection or imposed during the initail processing.